Dance Augusta

Dance Augusta is the dynamic vision of Ron and Zanne Colton, Bon Ellis and a host of devoted volunteers and parents. Developed after decades of meticulous direction and instruction in the art of dance, Dance Augusta opened its first season in 2006 with the beloved holiday tradition, The Nutcracker, which has enthralled audiences for 38 years.

Ron Colton, a former New York City Ballet dancer and part of George Balanchine’s company when The Nutcracker was first produced in 1953, brought the beloved classic to Augusta in 1971. Good friend and colleague Robert Barnett, then Artistic Director of the Atlanta Ballet, staged Augusta’s first production. The Atlanta Ballet danced the soloist roles and provided the sets and costumes in those early years. Since that time, hundreds of children and adults have been a part of The Nutcracker both on stage and off. There are now two generations of dancers who make The Nutcracker a part of their lives every fall. Each year, thousands of families are magically transported to the Land of the Sweets to behold little Clara’s dream of The Nutcracker.

In addition to Augusta’s favorite, The Nutcracker, Dance Augusta stays busy presenting seasons of professional dance through inspired classics and innovative premiere works.

In years past, the company has presented the romantic ballet Les Sylphides; the visually striking Satiescape, set to the calming music of Erik Satie; a poignant dramatic piece, The Beloved, set to Samuel Barber’s lush Adagio for Strings; the comedic ballet Dans le Bois, evocative of the humorous Ballet Russes de Monte Carlo and the premiere of Peter Powlus’ Rockin’ with You, accompanied by musician Tara Scheyer with cuts from her recent CD, Hi-Fi Felix and “April’s Bagatelles,” a wonderful evening featuring eclectic works from the company’s repertoire at the Imperial Theatre.

The Company has also performed the classical ballet Swan Lake Act II; the poignantly beautiful and serene Cranes choreographed by Jack Yantis; and premiered three new works by local choreographers: Gallery, a complex and inspired musical offering by Peter Powlus; Highlights, a wonderfully inventive work created by dancer Morgan Hulen to music by the musical group Yes; and the visually colorful and stunning work, Kalimankou, choreographed by Andrew Kuharsky and set to the haunting, “a cappella” voices of Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares.

This past spring the Company presented an eclectic program, “5 x 12”, featuring 5 uniquely different pieces performed by 12 dancers.

They included, Symphony 13 a neo-classical work set to Josef Hadyn’s music with choreography by Duncan Noble; Grand Faux Pas, a whimsical romp between a cleaning lady and her partner, the janitor, with music by Amilcare Ponchelli and choreography by Harvey Hysell; Between Before and After, the debut of Peter Powlus’ latest work with music by the group, Oregon; Back to GA, a contemporary piece set to the lively music of Allison Krause and choreographed by Augusta’s own Tammy Westafer and Gift to be Simple a lyrical homage to the simple yet haunting melodies of traditional Shaker Songs and Chants with choreography by Norbert Vesak.

Dance Augusta’s Spring Show in 2010 will be announced in the near future and we hope you will join us for this entertaining evening of dance.

As Dance Augusta enhances its legacy as Augusta’s enduring dance company, there is a heightened energy and desire to provide the best and brightest expression of dance in our community. Dance Augusta not only opens the stage door for its fresh and inspired finely trained troupe of young dancers from the Augusta Ballet School but also shines the spotlight on former dancers pursuing professional careers in dance as they return to share the stage, bringing the best in dance to Augusta.